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Podcast: Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Episode: Judd Kessler on How to Become Lucky by Design | EP 677
Description: John brings on Wharton economist Judd B. Kessler to unpack why outcomes that look like luck are usually the product of hidden market designs. Kessler explains the three E’s—equity, efficiency, and ease—and why designers must make those tradeoffs explicit. He shows how to win in choose-me markets (jobs, dating, college admissions) by signaling clearly and sometimes prioritizing early commitment (e.g., early decision). In high-scarcity races (restaurant reservations, tickets), he argues for “settling for silver”—acting on a strong second choice first—to beat the crowd.The conversation gets tactical: how to stand out when AI drafts...